BI-COUNTY BRIEF - JANUARY 2009

ECS UPDATED FOR SCHOOL SERVICE PERSONNEL
The law requiring professional development for renewal of the School Service Personnel certificate went into effect July 1, 2008.  Statements of Assurance can now be submitted for those whose registration expires June 30, 2009.  Those certificate holders have prorated requirements and need to cover only the 2008-2009 school year.  The requirements are outlined on ISBE's website at www.isbe.net/certification/html/school_service.htm.  ECS has gone live with the update on January 5, 2009.

SCHOOLS RECYCLE OVER 7 TONS OF TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT
On November 14th several schools participated in our region's second technology recycle day (free of charge). It was rewarding to see the truckloads of equipment being brought in to recycle rather than discarded in landfills. A large truck hauled away 14,057 lbs. of refuse. Thank you to all who participated. We hope to be able to replicate this each year and are looking forward to expanding this effort in future years.

ICEARY 2009 CONFERENCE FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
Illinois Coalition for Educating At-Risk Youth (ICEARY) 2009 Conference: Celebrating Lincoln will be held Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The conference is designed for educators, interventionists, counselors, parents and those who work with at-risk youth. It will offer ideas, skill-sets and motivation for teaching this population. The registration deadline is February 1, 2009.  Find the registration form and conference information at www.iceary.org or contact Julie Wollerman at jwollerman@fayette.k12.il.us or 618-283-5011.

STEM POLAR CONNECTIONS SUMMER 2009 INSTITUTE
Middle and high school science, math and technology teachers are encouraged to apply to attend a one-week summer institute sponsored by STEM Education Institute and the Climate System Research Center.  The summer institute will be held June 28 through July 2, 2009 at UMass Amherst.  The program is designed to promote the teaching of science concepts and processes related to the polar regions and to emphasize connections to state and national science standards for middle and high school. For complete details go to www.umassk12.net/ipy or ipy@umassk12.net or call 413-545-0734.

REPORTING AND PREVENTING ILLNESSES
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requests that schools contact their local public health department with questions about reporting illnesses or using prevention measures to control illnesses in their schools.  The phone number of the Monroe-Randolph Bi-County Health Department is 618-826-5007.  The following link is to Illinois' reportable disease list. The number of hours or days allowed for reporting each disease is also noted at www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/STOPandReportPoster2008.pdf.

READING STRATEGIES FOR EVERYONE
Knowledge Chart Before reading a text, students fill in the blanks of the chart with the main topic of their reading.  Students then briefly list the things they already know about the topic, writing them down in short phrases.  After reading the text, students fill in the second column with the new facts they have learned from their reading.

Two-Column Notes Two-column notes are a terrific way to teach students to create organized notes that can be used later as a study tool.  This type of note-taking can be used both when reading textbooks and when taking notes from a lecture on any subject.  Students create two-column notes by folding each piece of notebook paper so the right edge is lined up with the left lined margin. This leaves a smaller side on the left and more room for notes and sketches on the right.  Key ideas are written on the left of the margin with explanations on the right.  Once the notes have been written, students can fold the right side of the paper back to the left margin, leaving only the key words on the left exposed.  Students can then study for tests alone, defining the terms and then lifting the right side of the page to check their answers.

Hints for Two-Column Notes Include the title and the date; list main ideas, topic and key words on the left; list information and/or subtopics on the right; indent subtopics and leave plenty of extra space; use only words and phrases; use abbreviations when appropriate;  and make notes neat and complete.

T-Notes T-Notes provide students an organized method of note-taking while listening or reading.  Students divide a sheet of notebook paper in half.  While listening or reading, students record words or key points in the left column.  In the right column, students record definitions or explanations of key points. 

Comparison-Contrast Charts Comparison-contrast charts do just about what you'd expect them to: they are useful for looking at two quantities and determining in what ways they are similar and in what ways they are different.  1.  Look at the similarities.  2.  Consider the differences.

ILLINOIS PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS - PART 3 - REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
Standard 10:  Reflection and Professional Growth addresses the need for educators to reflect on teaching practice in their classrooms if practice and learning are to move forward.  Most educators reflect, but it is often done mentally as they drive or as they try to fall asleep at night.  The results of this type of reflection are limited, as they often forget their thoughts after 24 hours!  Too many other issues crowd reflective thoughts out of their minds.  Productive reflection requires much more than these mental thoughts if teaching and student learning are to be impacted.  Look at the Illinois Continuum of Teacher Development to see where you would identify your level of reflection.  

Performance        indicator	Emerging	Applying	Integrating	Innovating
10.2 Reflection Upon and Revising Practice	ª    Uses a variety of      methods to reflect      on teaching practice,       with ongoing         assistance from       more experienced       colleagues.	ª    Uses multiple      measures to reflect       on the relationship      between teaching      and learning. ª    Identifies short-      term goals for      improved teaching      and learning based      on data. ª    Applies reasearch      findings and      professional lit-      erature to own       classroom practice.	ª    Seeks students' input      to analyze, modify      and reflect upon own      teaching practice,      student learning      and professional      goals. ª    Investigates and      tries new teaching      strategies based      on evidence from      students and their      work.	ª    Forms a learning      community to pursue      areas of professional      growth.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 13, 2009 January 23, 2009 February 5, 2009 Feb., 9, 10, 11, & 12    February 10, 2009 February 19, 2009 February 19, 2009 February 20, 2009 February 22, 2009 February 24, 2009 February 27, 2009

Best Reading Practices - Writing to Enhance Comp. Using PLAN, EXPLORE and ACT Data Effectively Principal Leadership Meeting Team Quest (Adventures in Learning) Beginning Teacher:  Using Student Work to Guide Instruction Guidance Counselor Workshop Administrator Academy on Instuctional Leadership Art du Jour Art du Jour Best Reading Practices - Assessments & Planning Superintendent Council Meeting

SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus Old Columbia M.S. Gym SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus SWIC, Red Bud Campus

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.